| − | '''Herbert Spencer''' (April 27, 1820 – December 8, 1903) was a highly influential English [[philosopher]] and [[political theorist]]. He had an encyclopedic range, writing on topics of government, ethics, education, economics, sociology, biology, psychology and anthropology. He originated some of the ideas of evolution picked up by [[Charles Darwin]]. Spencer's main theme was that powerful forces of social evolution were systematically making mankind better and better. In politics he was a 19th-century liberal—similar to modern libertarians—who opposed to government intervention of any sort and provided the arguments that conservatives still use to oppose socialist and liberal proposals. He is most famous as a champion of individualism and his rejection of any form of collectivism. Spencer insisted on an ethical and humane approach to future social development, which prohibited dominance and aggression towards dependent persons or groups, even if it could be demonstrated that the long-term result would be beneficial.<ref>Francis (2007) p. 337</ref> Sciabarra (1999) calls Spencer "The First Libertarian." | + | '''Herbert Spencer''' (April 27, 1820 – December 8, 1903) was a highly influential English [[philosopher]] and [[political theorist]]. He had an encyclopedic range, writing on topics of government, ethics, education, economics, sociology, biology, psychology and anthropology. He originated some of the ideas of evolution picked up by [[Charles Darwin]]. Spencer's main theme was that powerful forces of social evolution were systematically making mankind better and better. In politics he was a 19th century liberal—similar to modern libertarians—who opposed to government intervention of any sort and provided the arguments that conservatives still use to oppose socialist and liberal proposals. He is most famous as a champion of individualism and his rejection of any form of collectivism. Spencer insisted on an ethical and humane approach to future social development, which prohibited dominance and aggression towards dependent persons or groups, even if it could be demonstrated that the long-term result would be beneficial.<ref>Francis (2007) p. 337</ref> Sciabarra (1999) calls Spencer "The First Libertarian." |